Note - time and distance are for a 28km out and back (or variations, see below). Total elevation gain for this day is about 3,000'.
This is probably the easiest mountain I have ever climbed. It just takes a lot of walking to get to it. There are two ways that this trip can be approached. It can be done from the Blakiston Creek side (left at Red Rock Creek), past Blakiston Falls, or from the Bauerman Creek side (straight ahead across the bridge towards Goat Lake and Snowshoe Cabin). The most scenic way, of course, would be to approach Bauerman Divide from one way or the other, climb the mountain, return to the divide, then take the other trail back to Red Rock Canyon. you would be circling Mount Bauerman, Kootenai Brown, Lost and Anderson.
On this day we decided to approach from the south (Blakiston Creek side). Both options start at the Red Rock Canyon parking area. This 11.5km trail in is mostly flat, rising in the last 2-3km to an obvious high point above Twin Lakes called the Bauerman Divide. Here you will also find a large cairn. There is no other reason for this cairn than to indicate that it is the high point and to turn up the ridge onto Mount Bauerman. Those who aren't climbers and wouldn't think to leave the established park trails are merely left to wonder why it's there.
The trail up to Mount Bauerman is about 2km one way, straight forward and not steep at all. So if you just want a long day in the mountains with an easily attainable summit, this one is for you. Angle left when you head into the trees. You will eventually come a trail at the top of the cliff above the Bauerman Creek side of the range with nice views of Twin Lakes below. Follow this trail up until it opens onto open rocky slopes on a nice broad ridge. Follow this ridge to the summit. There is nothing there to mark the spot except a little pile of rocks. Return the way you came back to the Divide then decide which way to return to Red Rock. The trail to the right through Twin Lakes is a bit longer.
Photos: First two photos show the easy ascent to Bauerman.
Third photo is Bauerman looking back from ridge to Kootenai Brown. You won't see this view but there it is anyway.
Directions:
From Red Rock Canyon, cross the creek and take the left (south) trail to Blakiston Falls. Follow this trail for 11.5km to what's called (but not signed) Bauerman Divide. This is an obvious height of land above Blue Grouse Basin and Twin Lakes. There is a large cairn (photo) at the point where you will start up through the trees towards Mt Bauerman.
